Automatic explosive puffing apparatus



y 5 w. K. HEILAND ETAL 3,

AUTOMATIC EXPLOSIVE PUFFING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2'7, 196? 5Sheets-Sheet 1 AT ORNEY.

y 1969 w. K. HEILAND ETAL 3,456,576

AUTOMATIC EXPLOSIVE PUFFING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTORS WOLFGANG K. HEILAND RAYMOND G. MERCALDO A RNEY.

July 22, 1969 w. K. HEILAND ETAL 3, 56,57

AUTOMATIC EXPLOSIVE PUFFING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27; 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet5 Fig. 3

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July 22, 1969 w, HE|LAND T 3,456,576

AUTOMATIC EXPLOSIVE PUFFING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet5 F lg. 6 25 Fig. 8

{ 51111 Nil 1 m INVENTORS WOLFGANG K. HEI LAND RAYMOND G. MERCALDOUnited States Patent 3,456,576 AUTOMATIC EXPLOSIVE PUFFING APPARATUSWolfgang K. Heiland, Trevose, and Raymond G. Mercaldo, Warminster, Pa.,assignors to the United States of America as represented by theSecretary of Agriculture Filed Feb. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 618,629 Int. Cl.A231 1/18 US. Cl. 99-238 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Anautomatic pufiing apparatus for explosive pufiing of fruits andvegetables having a continuous product feed and receiver and anautomatic but intermittent pufi'ing operation. A non-hinged deeplyrecessed lid in combination with a heavy firing spring and the internalpressure in the pufi'ing chamber provides extremely short opening timesand a sideways discharge of puffed product.

A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the inventionherein described, throughout the world for all purposes of the UnitedStates Government, with the power to grant sublicenses for suchpurposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States ofAmerica.

This invention relates to apparatus for explosive puffing of variousproducts. More particularly, it relates to apparatus for continuousexplosive puffing of various products, especially comestibles.

Pufiing process has long been applied in the preparation of productssuch as read-to-eat cereals and more recently in the preparation ofquick cooking dehydrated fruits and vegetables. In such pufiing process,the material is placed in a hollow pressure chamber, the chamber issealed and heat and pressure are applied. Pressure may be applied eitherby external application of heat such as gas burners, electric heaters orsteam jacket, and/ or by injecting superheated steam into the chamberuntil the moisture in the material is slightly superheated with respectto atmospheric pressure. The chamber is subsequently rapidly openeddischarging the material, while a small amount of the superheatedmoisture in the material flashes into steam, causing the material topulf.

Equipment in current operation for explosive pufiing exists in the formof pufiing guns of various designs. These pufiing guns, however, sufferfrom many disadvantages. For example, differences in such variables astime, temperature and pressure which are prevalent, adversely affectproduct uniformity between batches; considerable time is lost duringfiring and reloading of putting guns and; large individual chargesrequire a spacious collection system.

One of the more serious draw-backs of pufling guns themselves, however,is their lid design. conventionally, such lids are hinged and aredependent exclusively on the releasing of the internal pressure foropening. T0 withstand the internal pressure and to form a pressure tightseal with the pressure chamber, such lids are heavily constructed.Because of their heavy construction, the speed of the'lids lags behindthe speed of portions of the discharging material. As a result theproduct is damaged, as it impinges on the lid. Since the opening time ofthe lid determines the quality of the puff, and since in currently usedapparatus the pressure for opening the lid is the same as the processingpressure, it is virtually impossible to increase the quality of the puffby decreasing the opening time of a given lid at established processingpressure.

It is therefore an object of this invention -to provide apparatus forcontinuous pufiing of various products, especially comestibles.

3,456,576 Patented July 22, 1969 Another object is to provide apparatusfor pulling various products, which said apparatus eliminate productdamage resulting from product impinging on the lid of said apparatus.

These and other objects will become apparent from the description,claims and accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

The objects of this invention are accomplished: (1) by connecting apressurized multiple-compartment continuous feeder valve equipped withpressurized discharge means between the conveyor which, transfers theproduct from the feed hopper, and the pressurized puffing chamber, (2)by providing the pressurized puffing chamber with a non-hinged lid whichcontains a deep recess and to which is attached a heavy compressionspring to accelerate opening. This lid opens on a downward stroke likethe piston of a combustion engine, and (3) by employing in combination apressurized multiple-component continuous feeder valve and a pressurizedpuffing chamber containing a non-hinged lid. This combination isoperative alone as well as when connected with existing apparatus.

.The pressurized multiple-compartment continuous feeder valve which iscomprised of a housing and several individual compartments therein,provides means for continuously heating and feeding product underpressure to the pressurized pufiing chamber; these compartments rotatecontinuously through a circular path. For example, at one point on thecircular path a compartment is aligned with the opening to the steamheated conveyor and is filled with the product to be processed. As onecompartment rotates away from the opening, another compartment isaligned with the conveyor opening and is filled with the product.Simultaneously, the previously filled compartments are pressurized withsuperheated steam as they continue rotating toward the puffing device.When each compartment is aligned with the discharge device feed opening,it empties its contents into the pressurized puffing chamber. Theputfing device makes an explosive discharge, closes the pufiing chamberwhich is pressurized immediately and the product from the nextcompartment falls into it. From the time the compartment is filled withproduct, the product remains under pressure until such pressure isreleased by the opening of the lid of the pressurized pufiing chamber.

In the instant invention, the lid is not hinged to the pufiing chamberand makes its opening stroke straight downward like the piston of acombustion engine. The lid is constructed with a deep recess whichcauses the product to be discharged sideways, nearly horizontal, whenthe lid is opened. This side discharge feature directs the product intothe collection system in a more easily controlled manner. This type lidis constructed with a piston type design and provides a more positiveseal against the pressure chamber as the sealing surface of the lidengages the sealing ring on the pressure chamber over its entire circumference at the same time, while the sealing surface of the lid is washedclean of product remaining just before it closes. Attached to the lid isa heavy compression spring which is automatically cocked during lidclosure. To open the lid, the stored energy in this spring is used toaccelerate the lid downward through its first length of travel. Withoutany assistance by the pressure in the pressure chamber, this springalone provides opening times comparable to those experienced on pufiingguns operat ing at average pressures. This feature makes possible thesuccessful pufling of fragile materials such as blueberries and applesat very low pressures without an excessive amount of fragmenting of sameby the lid and collecting system. For sturdier products, such as carrotsand potatoes, this spring, augmented by the pressure in the pressurechamber, provides extremely short opening times and a high quality puff.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic drawing showing all equipment pertinent to thewhole process.

FIG. 1A is a transverse section of the valve taken on plane 1A1A ofFIGURE 1.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the assembled invention. FIG. 3 is a sideelevation of the assembled invention looking at the discharge.

FIG. 4 is a schematic air diagram.

. FIG. 5 is a view, mostly in cross section along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5A is a fragmentary section of the discharge cham- :ber taken online 5A5A of FIGURE 5, showing the direction of product discharge.

FIG. 6 is a view mostly in cross section along line 66 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a partial view in direction 7--7 showing the air cylinder andyoke.

FIG. 8 is a partial view, mostly in cross section along line 8-8 of FIG.3.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing the operation of the instant inventionin combination with conventional apparatus: The material to be processedis removed from an input hopper (component #1) by a volumetric feeder(component #2) at a pre-set rate and dropped into a screw conveyor(component #3) which is comprised of a hollow, steam heated conveyingscrew and steam jacketed trough. Here, the product is preheated underatmospheric pressure and falls by gravity into an intermittent feeder(component #4), where the product is accumulating until a pocket of thepressurized conventional star valve (component #5) is in position forthe drop. As each pocket of this star valve lines up with the feedopening, it is filled with preheated product and as it clears the feedopening, it is pressurized with superheated steam. As the star valvecontinues to rotate, the superheated steam heats the product until itsmoisture is slightly superheated with respect to atmospheric pressure.The product then transfers by gravity into the closed, prepressurizedpufiing device (component #6), and as soon as the pocket is in theproper position, the lid to the pressurized puffing chamber is openeddownward by a heavy compression spring and the internal pressure of thepufling chamber. The deep recess in the lid causes the product to bedischarged horizontally into a semi-perforated receiver (component #7),rotating synchronously with the star valve. This receiver makes onerevolution per discharge at which time its solid half is on the bottomto prevent damage to the discharging product as the steam is allowed toescape upward through the perforated half. With the axis of the receiversloping downward, the product is gently conveyed through the receiverlength to a take-away conveyor (component #8). Part of the dischargingproduct may have enough velocity to fly clear through the synchronouslyrotating receiver and pass the take-away belt. In such cases, thedischarging product is finally stopped by a vibrating, progressivelyinclined arrester (component #9), which vibrates the product back to thetake-away conveyor.

Various comestibles and other products have been explosively puifed inthe above described apparatus. Such products includeboth fragile andsturdy products such as carrots, potatoes, cellery, apples, rutabages,beets, turnips, blueberries. Damage-free puffed products have beenrepeatedly obtained.

A further and more detailed illustration of the instant invention isdemonstrated when a product, such as one of those named above, reachesthe pressurized pufiing chamber. Referring now mostly to FIGS. 2, 3, 4and 5, after the heated product reaches the pressurized pufiing valve toadmit compressed air to the rod 16 end side of air cylinder 17. Fastenedto the rod end 16 of air cylinder 17 is a yoke 18 having two hooked ends19 which at this time are engaged with two outboard roller bearings 20on the knee joint shaft 21. At this time, the center line of knee jointshaft 21 is located a small distance to the right of a straight linebetween upper 22 and lower 23 pivot pins which are connected to eachother by a. pair of upper 24 and lower 25 links as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6.Right side movement of knee joint shaft 21 is limited by adjustable stop26 and knee joint shaft center roller 27. Pivot mounting 28 of aircylinder 17, gravity and extension spring 29 cause the yoke 18 to remainin contact with outboard rollers 20, as the compressed air retracts rodend 16 moving knee joint shaft 21to the left. As the knee joint shaft 21moves past the connecting line of pivots 22 and 23, the whole knee jointmechanism becomes unlocked. The pull ofyoke ends 19 on rollers 20 andthe steadily increasing force components of co-mpression spring 30 (FIG.5), transmitting its force through floating sleeve 31, anvil 32 to upperpivot pin 22 and the pressure in chamber 11 acting on lid 33, throughlid-shaft 34, transmitting its force to upper pivot pin 22 causing kneejoint 21 to swing counter clockwise around lower pivot pin 23. Rollers20 move ahead to the moving hooked ends 19 of yoke 18. As the knee joint21 moves through this arc, the upper pivot pin 22 with anvil 32, lid 33and lid shaft 34 move straight downward until this movement is graduallystopped by the arrester mechanism as the anvil 32 makes contact withTeflon heat shield 35 (FIGS. 2 and 6), supported by a horse-shoe-shapedrubber bumper 36, spring housing 37, compression spring 38 andautomotive shock absorber 39, all of which are mounted in an arresterhousing 40, bolted to the lower frame 41. The downward movement isfinally stopped when lower end of spring housing 37 and collar 42contact rubber stop 43. In the meantime, the product in chamber 11 isexplosively discharged through discharge opening 44 (FIG. 3) of intermediate housing 45 as the lid 33 makes its down stroke. Spring 38returns spring housing 37, rubber bumper 36 and heat shield 35. At thesame time, anvil 32, and with it lid 33 and lid shaft 34 are raised asmall amount. In the meantime, retraction of air cylinder rod 16 hascome to an end as an adjustable stop screw 46 on yoke 18 tripped limitswitch 47 mounted on the face of air cylinder 17 causing solenoid 48(FIG. 4) to become energized, shifting 4-way valve 49 to the right andcompressed air is admitted to the bottom end of air cylinder 17, whilethe rod end side is now exhausting to the atmosphere, causing the rod 16and with it yoke 18 to move out starting from position depicted in FIG.7. This forward movement, controlled by flow control valve 50, cocks theknee joint mechanism as the bumper 51 contacts roller 27 in center ofknee joint shaft 21 and moves it on an are around lower pivot 23 untilthis movement is stopped by adjustable stop 26. Through the hollowcenter of this stop 26, a pin 52 extends by a small amount into the passof roller 27 which, as the knee joint snaps past dead center, is firedto the right, tripping limit switch 53. Limit switch 53 in turnenergizes solenoid 54 causing 4-way valve 49 to shift to position shownin FIG. 4. Check valve 55 and the closed valve 15 prevent compressed airfrom entering the rod end 16 side of air cylinder 17. With. the bottomside of air cylinder 17 connected to the exhaust part of valve 49through flow control valve 50 and check valve 56, two

extension springs 57, mounted one on each side of-the chamber,theinstant invention operates as follows: Cam

disc 12 located on star valve shaft (component #5) actuates limit switch13 energizing solenoid 14 which opens yoke'18 and air cylinder 17retract the cylinder rod 16 and yoke 18 slowlyas make-up air is allowedto enter the rod end side of air cylinder through check valve 58. Pistonrod 16 and "yoke 18 rolling on rollers 20 are retracted by springs 57until hooked ends 19'of yoke. 18 snug-up on rollers 20. Earlier, duringcocking of the knee joint mechanism, upper pivot 22, (FIG. 5), anvil 32,

lid 33 and lid shaft 34 moved upward until upper end of anvil 32contacted floating sleeve 31, lifting it ofi bumper 59 and in turncompressing spring 30 as the lid 33 closed with its annular sealingsurface 60 against sealing ring 61 of pressure chamber 11. Just beforethe lid 33 closes, a plurality of fine jets 62 (FIG. 8) of superheatedsteam wash off any product remaining on sealing surface 60. The instantthe lid 33 is closed a quick opening steam valve (not shown) activatedby a second cam disc 63 locatedon the star valve shaft admitssuperheated steam through port 64 into chamber 11, pressurizing sameprior to the next compartment of the star opening to the pressurechamber 11. Thus, as soon as this next compartment starts to open intothe feed opening 65 of chamber 11, internal pressures of compartment andchamber 11 are identical as the product drops by gravity into chamber11, the compartment of which is designated by 33A in FIGURES 5 and 5A.

To prevent impact loads on floating sleeve 31 (FIG. 5) and other vitalparts, the floating sleeve is air cushioned before it hits bumper 59 bymeans of shaft seal 66 closing against the lower, cylindrical portion offloating sleeve 31.

To provide a positive sealing of lid 33 against sealing ring 61, throughthe full range of manufacturing tolerances, the lower pivot 23 (FIG. 6)of the knee joint mechanism is adjustable. T o accommodate a centralarrangement of the arrester mechanism, the lower pivot 23 consists oftwo pins 23a and 23b. Rotatably secured to an eccentric portion 67 ofpins 23 are the lower links 25 of the knee joint mechanism by means ofneedle bearings 68. Spur gears 69 on both pins 23 and on both ends ofjack shaft 70 (FIG. 2) secure the lower pins 23 to each other and whenjack shaft 70 is rotated by means of flats on its protruding end, bothlower links 25 are raised or lowered together. After the correctposition of the lower pins 23 toward positive sealing of lid 33 againstsealing ring 61 is established, both lower pins 23 are locked in placeby tightening set screws 71 which in turn are secured from becomingloose through tightening of nuts 72 against arrester housing 40. Tofacilitate removal and installation of sealing ring 61 (FIGS. 5 and 8),its retaining groove is only partly machined into chamber 11. The outerpart of the retaining groove is formed by a ring 73 which, through crank74, miter gears.75, drive pinion 76, split ring gear 77 and drivenpinions 78 can be lowered. To prevent any hard shock from beingtransmitted to the floor, the entire apparatus is bolted to the floor bymeans of four shock mounts 79.

We claim:

1. The combination of a pressurized feeder valve and a pressurizedpuffing chamber with a non-hinged lid to which is connected acompression spring which upon release opens said non-hinged lid; saidfeeder valve discharging pressurized product into said non-hingedpressurized chamber.

2. In an apparatus for explosive puffing of comestibles and otherproducts, the improvement consisting of the combination of a pressurizedfeeder valve and a pressurized pufling chamber with a non-hinged lid,said nonhinged lid containing a recess for side-way discharge of puffedproduct, said non-hinged lid being connected to a compression springwhich when released opens said lid in a downward manner.

3. In an apparatus for the explosive pufling of comestibles and otherproducts, the improvement comprising a pressurized pufiing chamberhaving a nonhinged lid and a compression spring connected to said lidacting with the internal pressure in the pufling chamber, saidcompression spring acting in combination with said internal pressure tomaximize the opening speed of the non-hinged lid.

4. The pressurized pufling chamber of claim 3 wherein said non-hingedlid contains a recess for side-way discharging of puffed product uponopening.

5. An automatic pufiing apparatus for explosive pufiing of fruits andvegetables having a continuous product feed and receiver and anautomatic but intermittent pufiing operation, the pufling chamber ofsaid apparatus being provided with a non-hinged deeply recessed lid,said lid being connected to a heavy compression spring which exerts itsforce on the lid in the same direction as that of the force exerted bythe internal pressure in said puffing chamber, said lid and spring incombination with the internal pressure in the puffing chamber providingextremely short opening times at low pressures for discharge of puffedproduct.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,445,742 2/ 1923 Blair.

1,639,909 8/ 1927 Suzuki.

1,655,618 1/1928 Mason 99--238 X 1,793,711 2/ 1931 Mitscberling 99238 X1,824,221 9/1931 Mason.

2,304,543 12/1942 Chapman l62-21 X 2,539,991 1/1951 Chapman l622472,585,170 2/1952 Prather.

2,622,985 12/ 1952 Haughey et al. 9981 2,627,221 2/ 1953 Doyle 99-2383,094,059 6/ 1963 Graham et al. 99--238 2,567,447 9/1951 Ramsden et al.99237 XR 3,128,690 4/1964 Maehl 99-238 3,288,053 11/1966 Perttula 99-238BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 99-8l; 146-223

